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Monika | Hand Lettered Healing

@handletteredhealing

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▪︎Reigniting joy through creativity as I fumble my way through healing chronic illness.
▪︎Deep in the hand lettering rabbit hole and not turning back!

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Be okay with people not liking you, most don't even like themselves. — Unknown

This 🙌

Why give any weight to another person's opinion of you that doesn't even like themselves?! How can they see you clearly when they see through a lens of self-hatred? How can they ever see good in you if they can't see good in themselves?

No surprise, they can't and they won't!

If you're like me and have held others' opinion of you far too high, here is another great reason to free yourself. Let people judge you in whatever way they want. Because it never means anything about you and is only a reflection of their inner critic. So let them marinate in their self-loathing. But never confuse, nor accept, their negative projections as a measure of who you really are.

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This style inspired by the wonderful lettering artist @jurgen_vercaemst 🙌

▪︎ by @handletteredhealing

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a month ago

Don't ruin your beautiful soul to fit into an ugly society - Unknown

A benefit I have found to getting older is seeing life, and especially society, more clearly. Ways of living that seemed "normal" and "just how it is" are more easily questioned. Within my answers emerged repeating patterns: unnatural, unhealthy, limiting, manipulative, dishonest, destructive, and greedy. This is the core of North American society. I believe the fact that the majority of people are on antidepressants or getting ill at higher rates is a red flag and reflection on how society has structured our lives and fed us continual lies of normalcy. For a species that boasts itself as the best, it has created an unhealthy society that is imploding on itself instead of sustaining itself.

It is infuriating and heartbreaking to me that this is what we have created for ourselves. Especially because we truly are walking miracles. The fact that we exist in the first place is absolutely mind-blogging, on top of how endlessly creative, loving, beautiful and unique we all are. These are the things that should be revered and uplifted the most and never cut away to fit a soulless society.

So here's a reminder of the truth that you are a miracle, so is your life and to let that steer your days as best as possible ❤️ by @handletteredhealing

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2 months ago

I may join the cicadas this summer and just scream for six weeks straight - unknown

Anyone else feeling they want to join me?? 🤪 We have plenty to scream about!!

Even if it's a day where all you feel like doing is screaming, I hope there a moment or two where you smile too. Both can co-exist.

I hope this made you smile today 🙏

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What type a day is it for you? Vote in the poll by @handletteredhealing

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3 months ago

There's bravery in being soft - unknown

As a child I used to spend summers with a friend that lived out of province. After two whole months spending day and night together there was the moment of saying our goodbyes at the airport. The moment I hugged her I cried. My friend didn't. I felt silly for my tears. Ashamed of my sensitivity. I tried my hardest not to cry but I did. Every Single. Time.

As I became an adult I had many more experiences where life seemed to say, "Harden yourself. You're too weak. Life is too painful." And so I did. It felt safer. More normal.

Now after much more life, illness, and trying to find health again, I also found my way back to myself. To my deeply feeling, introspective and tender core. I've come to love that this world can stir joy and awe from rustling leaves, dew sparkling in sunlight, or the smell of night air. Or tears from goodbyes, love, and beauty. Or from hurts, others' suffering, and injustices. And it's all okay. It feels right to feel it all. To let myself be soft. Life always gives endless reasons to close off but I prefer to not to miss the breadth of all that is human.

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This style was inspired by two amazing lettering artists @jurgen_vercaemst and @kalligrafen 🙌

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#drawncapitals #drawnletters #fineliner #handlettering #calligraphy by @handletteredhealing

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3 months ago

Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. - Oscar Wilde

Majority of my posts are linked to some aha, healing or growth I've experienced. This one is simply about following my curiosity.

I wanted to explore another of Hermann Kilian's lettering styles. It is a style that, at the beginning, I didn't find very attractive but now I have come to enjoy the contrast and playfulness created by the varying sizes of Es. I couldn't help but follow this curious nudge to explore and make a piece of my own. To do so I wanted a quote with a lot of Es in it. I've known this Oscar Wilde quote for years now and still love the truth it speaks plus it had plenty of Es to play with! And so here is the result that filled my cup, and my curiosity, in the process of making it 🙌

And, of course, don’t forget to let out your unique brilliance for all to see 🥰 by @handletteredhealing

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4 months ago

Your intuition already told you. Everything after that is just negotiation with fear. - Matt Cooke

One of my biggest regrets occurred over 10 years ago. My intuition kept telling me: "You must take a break from work to focus on your health." It was a clear and simple instruction in spite of doctors finding nothing wrong over years. This intuition immediately ignited my fear turning my stomach with dread. Fear quickly voiced its own opinions: "You can't take time off because it might endanger your job. You can't risk that! You have no one to take care of you if you lost your job. You'll have nothing. See you have no options. Keep working!" These were loud and incessant. I didn't trust my intuition to begin with so fear was the victor. Again.

I kept working for two more years while steadily declining physically until my body suddenly gave out. I lost all ability to function or take care of myself and become bedbound needing full-time care. I lost every inch of my life. Work, apartment, friends, family members, independence, and most importantly my health with little evidence I would ever get better. I eventually learned my illness was one that if you pushed the more severe and permanently disabled you could became. And that was all I did: constantly pushed past my intuition and my body.

That intuition had been right all along. There was something wrong with my body and I needed to tend to it. I could have avoided devastation if I listened instead of succumbing to fear. It's been heartbreaking and a huge lesson that I very much wish I had learned long ago.

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Please do listen to you intuition when it comes to your health 🙏

▪︎ by @handletteredhealing

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4 months ago

Your job, throughout your entire life, is to disappoint as many people as it takes to avoid disappointing yourself. - Glennon Doyle

A huge realization hit me recently. I have been unconsciously equating disappointing those closest to me as something dangerous. I was stunned! It all made sense. I have been so frustrated with myself for a long time now. I kept seeing myself saying yes and pushing past my body's needs for others without knowing why. I knew well enough that I couldn't be doing this because it risked my health (I have a chronic illness) but I couldn't stop myself either.

Now it is perfectly clear. Of course, how could I ever feel safe to say no when unconsciously disappointing them felt dangerous. Of course, I would pick their needs over mine when the stakes felt that high. And, of course, I made this association as a young child living in an uncertain environment trying to survive. It all made sense.

Gratefully now it's obvious that disappointing those I care about may be uncomfortable for both sides but it is not a danger. And if I want to give my body the best chance to heal, and perhaps even recover, while living authentically, then I will disappoint others along this path. My health and truth depend on it.

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Couldn't stop myself from making a few versions of this quote. Curious, which is your favorite? by @handletteredhealing

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5 months ago

Sometimes I actually get my shit together but then I lose it again like two days later - unknown

I hope this makes you smile like it did me 😅 Within all the heaviness of our current world, I truly believe smiles and laughs are vital for our mental and emotional wellbeing. So I wish you many small or big moments of lightness as you navigate your days 🙏

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This piece is inspired and influenced by the outstanding @sue.tangomango and her creative spin on Neuland 🙌

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P.S. I'm nervous to post this since it uses a swear word but I'm here doing it anyway 🙈

▪︎ by @handletteredhealing

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6 months ago

Hope is the voice that meets you in the storm and says there is more than you can see right now - Abbie Higgins

The truth is hope exists even if our mind tries to convince us otherwise. Especially when we are scared, our mind can only see a certain distance and direction which is often bleak and full of dead ends of misery. But hope carries with it the possibility of something better even if you cannot see a path out just yet. But a path exists. Just keep holding on 🙏

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I finally had the opportunity to take a workshop with the outstanding artist @sue.tangomango ! It was all things Neuland including hand embossing which inspired this piece. Thank you again Sue for a wonderful class 🙌

▪︎ by @handletteredhealing

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6 months ago

It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society - Jiddu Krishnamurti

This quote is from the 1950s yet it is still relevant today. Perhaps even more so. For the countless many of us, no matter how much society tries to press on us what is happening near and far is okay, normal or justified, the truth remains absolutely clear and blatantly obvious. Our eyes, minds, and especially hearts know for certain that this society is indeed deeply and profoundly sick. This isn't new, as Krishnamurti noted, but the sickness appears to be accelerating becoming increasingly dangerous. In the face of all of this quickly remerges an equally profound peaceful resistance. Our hearts cannot simply sit back and watch these atrocities instead it passionately moves us to do something. Big or small. This is evidence that within all the surrounding horror still lives an unending love for each other and this world. This is strength and connection in motion and proof that all is never lost. And we are always stronger together. by @handletteredhealing

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9 months ago

2000 (+ 106!) Thank Yous

I truly want to thank each one of you! With the world changing drastically plus this algorithm in constant flux, I don't take for granted that I get some of your precious time and support! Thank you very much to each one of you for being here and following along 🙏

Espeically, countless thanks to the many speical individuals that always heart, comment and share my work. This space wouldn't have grown this much without you! You are each amazing cheerleaders of kindness, support and friendship 🙌 I see you, appreciate you, and cannot thank you enough ❤❤❤

Sincere thank yous once again! 💖

Monika

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I'm deep into an ocean of joy learning art nouveau with the wonderful @linocatart 🙌 Can't help but using this style everywhere ☺

▪︎⁸ by @handletteredhealing

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9 months ago

Peace Love Hope

Wishing you days, weeks and years ahead full of peace, love and neverending hope. May it be this or better 🙏❤

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Thank you the wonderful @fontness and @wordsandflowersau for the lovely prompts 🥰

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Do you have a favorite version? 😀 by @handletteredhealing

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10 months ago